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USA Today
By Ben Mutzabaugh
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
American 'outraged' over 9/11 miniseries
American Airlines officials have expressed outrage over the airline's portrayal in the ABC mini-series The Path to 9/11. According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, executives objected to a scene in the television docudrama in which American employees in Boston are depicted allowing hijacker Mohammed Atta to board a flight even after receiving a security alert about him.
In reality, the incident allegedly depicted occured in Portland, Maine, on a flight operated by another airline. ABC claims the script is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, but the network was forced to make script changes after challenges from former Clinton administration officials.
An official statement from American describes ABC as "inaccurate and irresponsible in its portrayal of the airport check-in events that occurred on the morning of September 11, 2001," but stopped short of threatening legal action.
TV Week tracked down further response from Roger Frizzell, American's VP of corporate communications and advertising posted on a popular blog site, "According to the 9/11 Commission Report, it was not American Airlines, nor was it even the right airport that was depicted."
Both reports note that ABC did not return phone calls seeking comment.
-- Ben Abramson
USA Today
By Ben Mutzabaugh
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
American 'outraged' over 9/11 miniseries
American Airlines officials have expressed outrage over the airline's portrayal in the ABC mini-series The Path to 9/11. According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, executives objected to a scene in the television docudrama in which American employees in Boston are depicted allowing hijacker Mohammed Atta to board a flight even after receiving a security alert about him.
In reality, the incident allegedly depicted occured in Portland, Maine, on a flight operated by another airline. ABC claims the script is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, but the network was forced to make script changes after challenges from former Clinton administration officials.
An official statement from American describes ABC as "inaccurate and irresponsible in its portrayal of the airport check-in events that occurred on the morning of September 11, 2001," but stopped short of threatening legal action.
TV Week tracked down further response from Roger Frizzell, American's VP of corporate communications and advertising posted on a popular blog site, "According to the 9/11 Commission Report, it was not American Airlines, nor was it even the right airport that was depicted."
Both reports note that ABC did not return phone calls seeking comment.
-- Ben Abramson